Some flooding reported in areas of Quebec Tuesday morning
Posted April 18, 2023 9:00 am.
MONTREAL – Spring thawing has caused flooding that can be seen Tuesday morning in some areas of Quebec.
Quebec Public Security reported significant flooding in the Laurentians, Saint-Jérôme, Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts and Mont-Tremblant. Another flood occurred near Dorwin Falls in Rawdon, Lanaudière.
In Saint-Jérôme, the flow of the Rivière du Nord was already very strong before dawn.
In the Montreal area, minor flooding was reported at four locations on the shores of Lake of Two Mountains and along the Mille-Îles River. Water also overflowed near Lake Saint-Pierre and Lake Maskinongé in the Mauricie region, near the Etchemin River in Saint-Henri-de-Lévis, and at two locations on the Ottawa River in Ottawa and at the Hull Marina in Gatineau.
The level of several rivers is being monitored by authorities. This is the case for the St. Lawrence River in the West Island of Montreal. The Rivière des Prairies is at high risk of flooding.
Authorities explain that the melting of snow caused by the recent heat and the rains expected in the coming days cause a rise in water.
However, Civil Security spokeswoman Marie-Soleil Boulet-Pruneau said Monday that no major flooding is feared yet.
In Gatineau, Mayor France Bélisle said nearly 40,000 filled sandbags were ready for distribution Tuesday morning at seven vulnerable sites. Crews have also begun filling additional sandbags.
The Outaouais’ main city has been plagued by major spring floods in 2017 and 2019, resulting in the loss of several hundred homes.
In Mont-Tremblant officials issued evacuation alerts for certain at risk sectors Monday night, with the Rivière du Diable reaching dangerously high levels. On Facebook officials said for your own safety and those of first responders please relocate until water levels are safe. Sand bags were also made available to residents.
